Electric sadiron



July 1, 1941. w. R, WEEKS ELECTRIC SADIRON Filed March 1, 1940 s WI b H 8 Q E a w :i ZAttorne Patented July 1, 1941 2,247,826 I ELECTRIC SADIRON Walter R. Weeks, Hamden,

Conm, asslgnor to General Electric Compa y. a corporation or New York Application March 1, 1940, Serial No. 321,712

5 Claims.

My invention relates to electric sadirons, and more particularly to a construction and arrangement for making electrical connections for an electric sadiron, and has for its object the provision of a simple, efiicient and inexpensive construction for making such connections.

While my invention is applicable to sadirons in general, it is particularly useful in sadirons provided with handles formed of thermo-setting molding compositions.

In order to improve the utility and appearance of flatirons in general, the trend has been to provide a permanently connected cord set on the iron, the cord set generally entering the iron through the rear part 01' its handle. One of the prerequisites of a construction for making such electrical connections is that the electrical connections be readily accessible so that they may be quickly and easily made during assembly operations. A further prerequisite is that the construction and arrangement include means capable of withstanding the high temperatures encountered in the iron for insulating the leads which pass through the iron casing.

In fiatirons provided with a handle formed of a thermosetting molding composition, it is an additional prerequisite that the construction permanently connecting the cord set to the iron be such as to require no complex molding construction in the handle or complex molding operation or die so that the molding cost will 'be kept at a minimum.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide an improved construction and arrangement for making cord set connections to irons in general, and further one which is particularly adapted for irons having a molded handle.

In accordance with my invention, I have provided a handle which is secured to the casing oi an electric iron so as to be substantially thermally insulated therefrom by a plurality 01' air spaces. In the rear end portion oi. this handle I have provided a small recess. In the molded handle this recess will be molded directly into the handle when it is made. Provided in one wall of the recess is an opening through which the end 01a cord set is adapted to pass and loosely arranged within the recess and supported by the casing of the iron is an insulating block upon which is mounted a pair of terminals to which the leads oi. the cord set can be connected. The insulating block is made of materials which are readily capable of withstanding the high temperatures which are attained by and within the casing or shell oi the iron and the block is constructed and arranged so that a portion thereof extends downwardly through and into the casing. This portion is provided with grooves in which the leads from the electrical equipment within the casing are adapted to be positioned so that in bringing them out through the casing to the terminals provided on the block they may be electrically insulated from the casing.

For a more complete understanding of my invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a view partly in section showing an electric sadiron employing my improved construction and arrangement for making electrical connections thereto; Fig. 2 is a view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 4 is a view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 5 is a detailed perspective showing the construction and arrangement of the insulator block.

Referring to Fig. 1, the sadiron is provided with a sole plate ill in which is molded a suitable heating unit ii which in the preferred form of my invention is a sheathed wire heating unit of the type described and claimed in United States Patent 1,367,341 to C. C, Abbott, dated February 1, 1921. Mounted on the sole plate I0 is a casing l! which is adapted to cover the upper surface of the sole plate and also to enease a thermostatically operated control device (not shown) for controlling the energization of the heating element II in accordance with temperature changes in the sole plate of the iron as is well known in the art. Extending through the casing I 2 is a shaft I 3 on which is mounted a handle it for adiusting the setting of the temperature responsive device (not shown). A plate I5 is mounted on the casing below the handle it and is provided with suitable indicia for indicating the temperature for which the temperature responsive device isset to operate.

Mounted on the casing i2 is a molded handle ll which is formed from a suitable thermo-setting molding composition such as a phenolic condensation product. In using such thermo-setting compositions it is desirable to support the handle it in a spaced relation with respect to the casing l2 so that the handle will not rest against the casing and be subjected to the high temperatures which the casing l2 attains when the iron .is in use. Accordingly, the front end of the handle I6 is spaced a considerable distance from the casing l2 and is supported on the uppermost plate of a series of heat transfer members I! which are secured to the casing and in spaced relation with each other by means of the studs l8 and the spacers I9 respectively. The rear end portion of the handle is secured to the casing by means of the screws and is spaced a slight amount therefrom, preferably about 34, inch, by means of the rectangular pads or bosses 20a formed on the handle. Although the pads 2011 form a direct contact between the casing and the handle, the area of this contact is small and the circulation of air through the space between the handle and easing reduces the temperature at this point. If it is desired to completely separate and thermally insulate the handle from the casing at this point, insulating washers, such as asbestos washers, may be used as spacers instead of the pads 20a and asbestos washers could be placed between the casing and the head of screws 20 to prevent conduction along the screws and into the handle. However, tests have shown that if the area of the pads 20a is small and the width of the air space of the order of magnitude referred to above, the temperature of the handle at this point of contact is kept down with out the use of asbestos washers.

In order to effect electrical connections to the iron in accordance with my invention, there is formed in the rear end of the handle a vertically extending recess having side walls 2| and 22 and a back wall 23. Formed in the side wall 2| is an opening 24 through which electrical leads of cord set 25 are adapted to extend as shown in Fig. 2. Notches 26 and 21 are formed in the side walls 2| and 22 respectively to in crease the width of the recess at its lower end and to form the shoulders 28 in each side wall. Formed on the back wall 23 of the recess so that its lower edge is in horizontal alignment with the shoulders 28 is a boss or abutment 29. It will be observed that the recess formed in the rear end of the iron handle is simple in construction and may be simply and easily molded without the use of expensive dies or complex molding operations.

Arranged to close the open side of the recess 'is a cover 30 which is held in position at its upper end by means of tabs 3| which extend into sockets 32 molded in the handle on either side of a boss 33. lower end by means of a pair of screws 34 which are threaded into a pair of openings 35 provided on the rear edge of each of the side walls 2| and 22.

Provided in the lower end of the recess formed by the side walls 2| and 22 is an insulating block 36. The block 36 is adapted to lie along the back wall 23 of the recess between the notched portions 26 and 21 and its movement into the recess is limited by the shoulders 28 and the abutment 29.

In accordance with my invention the insulating block is provided with a lower portion 31 which is adapted to extend downwardly through a suitable opening provided in the top of the easing |2 and into the space formed by the casing. This portion of the insulating block serves to insulate the electrical leads which are brought out through the casing and since the temperature of the casing and the space within the casing are high during use of the iron, the insulating block must be made from a material capable of withstanding such temperatures. In accordance with my invention the block 36 is molded from a suitable ceramic material. In order to support The cover 30 is secured at its the block in its operative position, a pair of shoulders 38 are molded thereon which are adapted to rest upon the upper surface of the casing 2.

Formed in the insulator 36 is a pair of enlarged openings 39 having a bottom wall 40 and provided in each bottom wall is a circular depression 4| which are adapted to receive and center the ends of terminal screws 42. The opening 39 is substantially square in contour so that a square nut 43 may be inserted therein and will be held in position so that the terminal screws 42 may be threaded thereinto. Extending downwardly from one of the openings 39 is a narrow slot 44. Extending downwardly from the other of the pair of openings 39 is a substantially wider slot 45 across which is provided a bridging member 46. In order to facilitate molding of the bridging member 45, an opening 41 is provided in the back of the insulator 36 opposite the bridging member.

As previously described, the casing |2 covers the top surface of the sole plate ||l including the ends of the heating element II and a suitable temperature responsive element (not shown). Extending from one end of the heating element outwardly through th casing I2 is a relatively still lead wire 46 and extending from one terminal of the temperature responsive element outwardly through the casing I2 is a flat resilient lead 49. A second resilient lead 56 is adapted to connect the other terminal of the temperature responsive element to the other terminal of the heating element H to complete the internal electrical connections of the iron.

In assembling an iron having my improved construction and arrangement for making electrical connections thereto, *the casing I2 is mounted on the sole plate so that the lead 49 and the lead 48 extend outwardly through the opening provided in the casing |2 adjacent the rear edge thereof and the insulator 36 is inserted in the opening in the casing so that the flatresilient lead 49 lies in the slot 45 behind the bridging member 46, the bridging member 46 serving to prevent the flexible lead from moving outwardly relative to the slot 45 and the round wire lead 48 lies in the narrow groove 44. With the leads thus positioned, the handle is mounted on the casing, the insulator 36 sliding upwardly between the enlarged portions of the side walls 2| and 22 until it rests against the shoulders 23 and the abutment 29. The handle is then secured to the casing or shell by means of the screws 26 and by means of the front supporting arrangement previously described.

During this assembly operation, the cover plate 30 is removed and when the handle has been mounted on the casing l2 the electrical connection of the leads 46 and 49 with the terminal screws 42 is made. At the same time, the ends of the wires 5| and 52 of the cord set are passed through the opening 24 and connected to the terminals 42. As shown in Fig. 2, the end of the cord set may be provided with a suitable strain relief portion 53 which rests against the inner surface of the side wall 2|. It will be observed that with the cover removed the terminal connections 42 are readily accessible so that the electrical connections between the supply leads and the internal leads of the iron may be simply and readily effected.

As previously pointed out, the insulator 36 ex tends downwardly through the top of the easing l2. This downwardly extending portion of the insulator 36 serves to insulate the leads 48 and 49 from the casing. Since the insulator 36 is made from a material capable of withstanding high temperatures, there will be no danger of oxidation of the insulation and its attendant electrical breakdown.

After the electrical connections have been made in the manner described above, the cover 30 is placed in position by inserting the tabs 3| in the recesses 32 and by securing the bottom end thereof by means of the screws 34.

While I have shown the insulator 36 as extending vertically into the recess formed by the side walls 2| and 22, it will be understood that the insulator might be mounted in the horizontal position without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

From the foregoing it will be observed that I have provided a construction and arrangement for making electrical connections to an electric flatiron which is particularly adaptable for use in irons having molded handles, requires no expensive molding dies or operations, is simple in construction and is readily and inexpensively assembled. It will be further observed that I have provided an improved construction and arrangement whereby electrical connections can be made and the leads brought out through the casing may be suitably insulated by insulating means capable of withstanding the high temperatures encountered within the iron casing.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and I, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an electrically heated flatiron, a sole plate, a casing mounted on said sole plate, a molded handle secured to said casing so as to be substantially thermally insulated therefrom, said handle having a recess formed in the rear portion thereof for receiving electrical supply leads, an insulator loosely supported in said recess having a portion extending into said casing, binding posts mounted on said insulator to which said electrical supply leads are secured, and grooves in said insulator for receiving the electrical leads for the electrical equipment within said casing, said portion of said insulator ex tending through said casing serving to insulate said last mentioned leads from said casing.

2. In an electrically heated ,fiatiron, a sole plate, a casing mounted on said sole plate having an opening adjacent the rear portion thereof, a molded handle secured to said casing so as to I be thermally insulated therefrom by air spaces arranged between the front portion of said handle and said casing and between substantially the entire rear portion of said handle and said casing, side walls defining a recess in the rear portion of said handle, a block of insulating material supported on said casing and having a portion extending through said opening in said casing and another portion extending into-said recess, terminals on said portion extending into said recess for making electrical connections to said iron, and grooves in said portion extending through said casing for receiving electrical leads from the elements within said casing so that these leads may be insulated from said casing.

3. In an electrically heated fiatiron, a sole plate, a casing mounted on said sole plate, a molded handle mounted on said casing and having an opening formed in the rear portion thereof, supply leads extending into said opening for connecting said iron to a source of supply, connecting leads extending through said casing and into said opening for connecting the electrical elements of said iron to said supply leads and an insulating block supported on said casing and having a portion extending through said casing and another portion extending into said opening in said handle, said portion extending through said casing having slots for receiving said connecting leads to insulate them from said casing and said portion extending into said recess having binding posts mounted therein by which said supply and connecting leads may be joined for effecting an electrical connection therebetween.

4. In an electrically heated flatiron, a sole plate, a casing mounted on said sole plate, a handle mounted on said casing having side walls defining an opening in the rear end portion of said handle, one of said side walls having an opening therein through which electrical supply leads are adapted to extend, an insulator supported on said casing and slidably mounted between said side walls of said opening, terminal means on said insulator adapted to receive the end of said supply leads and grooves leading from said terminal means adapted to receive electrical leads for connecting the electrical elements of said iron to said supply leads, said insulator having a portion thereof with said grooves therein extending downwardly through said casing so that said last mentioned leads are insulated from said casing.

5. In an electrically heated fiatiron having a sole plate, a casing mounted on said sole plate having an opening adjacent the rear portion thereof, a molded handle mounted on said casing having a front portion and a rear portion connected by a longitudinal portion, means for supporting the frontportion of said handle on said casing so that said portion is thermally insulated from said casing by means of air spaces, means for supporting the rear portion of said handle on said casing so that an air space is provided between substantially the entire rear portion of said handle and the surface of said casing, side walls defining a recess in the rear portion of said handle, said recess having an enlarged area at the lower end thereof, a block of electrically insulating heat resisting material loosely supported on said casing and having a portion slidably positioned in said lower end of said recess and a second portion extending through said opening in said casing and into said casing, terminal means on said portion of said block extending into said recess by which electrical supply leads are adapted to be connected, and grooves in said bloclc leading from said terminal means into said casing, said grooves being adapted to receive electrical leads from the electrical elements of said iron so that said leads may be insulated from said casing by insulating material having heat resisting properties.

WALTER R. WEEKS. 

